Starlets set for Hall nod

TWO teenage starlets, rated among the most promising in North Wales, are poised to make their first-team debuts for the region's top club Northop Hall in Sunday's opening round of the ECB National Knockout - a competition that leads to Lord's.

TWO teenage starlets, rated among the most promising in North Wales, are poised to make their first-team debuts for the region's top club Northop Hall in Sunday's opening round of the ECB National Knockout - a competition that leads to Lord's.

James Griffiths, only 15, and David Lloyd, less than two years older, are both named in a powerful Hall line-up to face St Helens Recs at Smithy Lane.

Top-order batsman Griffiths, a signing from Marchwiel, hit 58 for the Seconds last Saturday while Lloyd, a forceful runmaker formerly with Castell Alun, cracked a fiery 79 on the opening day of the season to force their claims on team manager Tudor Jones.

"They look real quality young players and this is an opportunity for us to give them a taste of first team action and see how they take to it," explained Jones.

"They've certainly looked the part since coming here with James a very correct and mature batsman and David more flamboyant and aggressive. I feel confident that they are going to make the grade all right."

St Helens Recs, who operate in the Chelmere Homes Liverpool Competition's first division - one tier below Northop Hall - may need to be on their toes if the teenage debutants get going in a match the Hall are giving a high priority.

"This is one of the major competitions of the season and we hope to have a good run in it very definitely," underlined the manager.

Back to lead the side after missing last Saturday's home defeat at the hands of unbeaten Ormskirk due to family and business commitments will be skipper Dave Kennedy, both for Sunday's cup date and tomorrow's final fixture in the Premier Division Cup against Northern.

"We've already lost both our opening matches in this cup so we are virtually out of it," conceded Jones. "While it's never pleasant to lose, this pre-season event isn't exactly the most vital of the year so we are not too concerned, especially as we have been without several of our key regulars in both games.

"Our main focus on the domestic front is the Premier Division proper which starts in a week's time."

Returning alongside Kennedy will be former skipper and prolific wicket-taker Darren Peters, who hasn't been available at all yet this season, but his reinstatement is offset by the absence of Welsh international all-rounder Paul Jenkins who has a family engagement tomorrow but plays against St Helens.

Chasing wickets tomorrow will be the Hall's new overseas professional Arshad Khan, the Pakistani Test spinner who picked up 1-16 in an economical nineover stint on his debut against Ormskirk, but who is ineligible for the cup.

"It was a very tidy effort and included one or two lbw shouts that were turned down," recalled his manager.

"I'm sure he's going to prove a very valuable asset once he's had time to settle in and our other new Pakistan all-rounder Majid Khan also bowled well for his 2-30."

Majid, who qualifies as an Englishbased player having operated in the Yorkshire League last season, will turn out twice in this back-to-back home double while another versatile youngster facing his Premier Division baptism tomorrow will be Mansoor Aslam, promoted from the Thirds.

Yet another new face on duty against Northern tomorrow will be David Price, a prominent Welsh shot-put ace and ex-Buckley medium-fast bowler.

"Again with nothing really riding on the result, it is an ideal opening to introduce him to the first-team scene," added Jones.